Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury Reducing Army Combat Reducing Army Combat HelmetHelmet

Team 6Team 6Kristin Kristin OhanianOhanianJim Jim VeronickVeronickDamian Damian FrankiewiczFrankiewicz

Client: Denise Client: Denise PanoskyPanoskyUniversity of Connecticut School of NursingUniversity of Connecticut School of NursingStorrs Hall, Room 208Storrs Hall, Room 208231 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2026231 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2026Storrs, CT 06269Storrs, CT 06269(860) 486(860) 486--0549 0549

OutlineOutline

BackgroundBackground Project DescriptionProject Description

SubunitsSubunits TestingTesting

ResultsResults Brain Injury ReductionBrain Injury Reduction Budget Budget ConclusionConclusion ReflectionReflection

BackgroundBackground

Former U.S. Army soldier, now a Former U.S. Army soldier, now a UConnUConn nursing student, nursing student, suggested improvements to combat helmets after serving in suggested improvements to combat helmets after serving in Iraq.Iraq.

Current helmets provide ballistic protection, but limited head Current helmets provide ballistic protection, but limited head trauma protectiontrauma protection

The The TheThe New England Journal of MedicineNew England Journal of Medicine reported a study reported a study where over 15% of soldiers in Iraq suffered from Traumatic where over 15% of soldiers in Iraq suffered from Traumatic Brian Injuries (Brian Injuries (TBIsTBIs))

TBIsTBIs are defined as sudden trauma to the brain that causes a are defined as sudden trauma to the brain that causes a varying extent of damagesvarying extent of damages

TBIsTBIs are mainly caused by Improvised Explosive Devices are mainly caused by Improvised Explosive Devices ((IEDsIEDs), vehicle accidents, and falls.), vehicle accidents, and falls. Limited Limited TBIsTBIs resulted from bullets, shrapnel, and resulted from bullets, shrapnel, and

fragments fragments

Background (cont.)Background (cont.)

Room for improvement is greatly needed to make helmet Room for improvement is greatly needed to make helmet capable of protecting against these injuries:capable of protecting against these injuries: Padding systemPadding system More supportive/better fitMore supportive/better fit Facial protectionFacial protection

Current Advanced Combat Helmet used by US Army

Project DescriptionProject Description

Design a new helmet and Design a new helmet and padding system that padding system that provides facial protection provides facial protection and reduces the risks of and reduces the risks of TBIsTBIs

SubunitsSubunits

Outer ShellOuter Shell Expanded Polystyrene LayerExpanded Polystyrene Layer Retention PaddingRetention Padding Suspension SystemSuspension System Chin GuardChin Guard

Chin GuardChin Guard

Wear to protect faceWear to protect face Lift up and lock when not Lift up and lock when not

neededneeded Made of Kevlar and has Made of Kevlar and has

pads for comfort/fitpads for comfort/fit

Outer ShellOuter Shell

Ideally, same current manufacturing process would be used to Ideally, same current manufacturing process would be used to create the outer shellcreate the outer shell

Shape will be similar to ACHShape will be similar to ACH Slightly largerSlightly larger More protectionMore protection

Made of Kevlar using a composite kitMade of Kevlar using a composite kit Mold for shell was made based on the shape of the ACHMold for shell was made based on the shape of the ACH

Outer ShellOuter Shell

3 prototypes3 prototypes Necessary for testingNecessary for testing 1 Triangle design, 2 1 Triangle design, 2

Pinwheel designPinwheel design

Padding/Impact Padding/Impact Protection SystemProtection System Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) LayerExpanded Polystyrene (EPS) Layer

For impact protectionFor impact protection Currently used in bicycle and motorcycle helmetsCurrently used in bicycle and motorcycle helmets ReplaceableReplaceable

Retention PaddingRetention Padding Removable for comfort and fitRemovable for comfort and fit Same pads as used in ACHSame pads as used in ACH

EPSEPS

EPS layerEPS layer Cut from 14Cut from 14 cubes with heated wirecubes with heated wire Molded using sandpaperMolded using sandpaper Final thickness is 3/10Final thickness is 3/10

Padding/Suspension SystemPadding/Suspension System

In order to prepare for testingIn order to prepare for testing Velcro circles added so padding can Velcro circles added so padding can

stickstick Suspension system addedSuspension system added

Same as used in ACHSame as used in ACH Required 4 holes to be drilled Required 4 holes to be drilled

TestingTesting

TestingTesting Head form with internal Head form with internal

accelerometer attached to accelerometer attached to helmethelmet

Dropped at different heights to Dropped at different heights to correspond to desired final correspond to desired final velocitiesvelocities

ResultsResults

Results compare acceleration (G Force) felt during impact Results compare acceleration (G Force) felt during impact velocityvelocity

Helmets without EPS appear to increase in G Force Helmets without EPS appear to increase in G Force exponentially while helmets with EPS increase less drasticallyexponentially while helmets with EPS increase less drastically

ResultsResults

Comparing ACH with pads to Prototype with padsComparing ACH with pads to Prototype with pads Both the ACH and Prototype exhibit similar trends when only Both the ACH and Prototype exhibit similar trends when only

pads are usedpads are used

ResultsResults

Comparing prototype with pads to prototype with pads and Comparing prototype with pads to prototype with pads and EPSEPS

54% decrease at 15 ft/s (with pads and EPS)54% decrease at 15 ft/s (with pads and EPS) 33% decrease at 12 ft/s (with pads and EPS)33% decrease at 12 ft/s (with pads and EPS)

ResultsResults

EPS DegradationEPS Degradation Shows that EPS is truly the variable that reduces G ForceShows that EPS is truly the variable that reduces G Force EPS begins to degrade after several hits and the results EPS begins to degrade after several hits and the results

show higher accelerationsshow higher accelerations Military replaces helmets after one major impact so this is Military replaces helmets after one major impact so this is

not a hindrancenot a hindrance

Brain Injury ReductionBrain Injury Reduction

We know that the prototype decreases impact forcesWe know that the prototype decreases impact forces How does this affect brain injury reduction?How does this affect brain injury reduction?

Brain injury diagnosis is observationalBrain injury diagnosis is observational Glasgow Coma Scale classifies Mild, Moderate, or Severe Glasgow Coma Scale classifies Mild, Moderate, or Severe

injury based on victiminjury based on victims verbal, motor, and eye reactions s verbal, motor, and eye reactions to stimulito stimuli

Comparison of qualitative results with quantitative data is Comparison of qualitative results with quantitative data is difficult and unclassifieddifficult and unclassified

Brain Injury ReductionBrain Injury Reduction

There is no real effective way to say that There is no real effective way to say that x amount of forces x amount of forces reduced produces a y increase in the GCI.reduced produces a y increase in the GCI.

The relationship is much more complicated than a simple oneThe relationship is much more complicated than a simple one--toto--one relationship, such as one relationship, such as an x percentage of forces an x percentage of forces reduces an x percentage of brain injuriesreduces an x percentage of brain injuries when a force impacts a helmet even at a single point, it when a force impacts a helmet even at a single point, it

sends a wave of energy throughout the entire head that sends a wave of energy throughout the entire head that emanates from the pointemanates from the point

Brain Injury ReductionBrain Injury Reduction

We can look at medical definitions of brain injuries to We can look at medical definitions of brain injuries to determine their causesdetermine their causes Countercoup effectCountercoup effect

Causes the brain to hit the skull and rock back and Causes the brain to hit the skull and rock back and forthforth

Caused by inertia, which is largely tied into the Caused by inertia, which is largely tied into the initial impactinitial impact

Although there are no studies to mathematically equate force Although there are no studies to mathematically equate force reduction to brain injury reduction, reduction to brain injury reduction, such a large decrease such a large decrease in impact force will logically decrease brain injury in impact force will logically decrease brain injury probabilityprobability by a statistically significant marginby a statistically significant margin

Budget Budget

ACH ACH donateddonated Motocross HelmetMotocross Helmet donateddonated Shell mold & componentsShell mold & components $880.69$880.69 Padding/suspension systemPadding/suspension system donateddonated Foam cutting suppliesFoam cutting supplies $130.58$130.58 EPS Foam PackEPS Foam Pack $122.12$122.12 Miscellaneous suppliesMiscellaneous supplies $81.21$81.21 Testing costTesting cost $600$600 TotalTotal.... $1800$1800

Cost of product:Cost of product: $420$420

ConclusionConclusion

The results show that the combination of EPS and the retention The results show that the combination of EPS and the retention padding system reduces G Force significantly compared to the padding system reduces G Force significantly compared to the previous helmet model resulting in reduction of TBI riskprevious helmet model resulting in reduction of TBI risk

The helmet:The helmet: Provides a stable, comfortable, and secure fitProvides a stable, comfortable, and secure fit Provides facial protectionProvides facial protection Is suitable for fast action situationsIs suitable for fast action situations

Reflection

Future changes: Have a specific, machine-manufactured EPS shell and chin

guard made for precise fitting rather than shaping by hand Design EPS differently so neck guard can move

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Denise Denise PanoskyPanosky & Gregory & Gregory LutkusLutkus, , UConnUConn School of NursingSchool of Nursing Shawn Thomas, Team WendyShawn Thomas, Team Wendy Dr. Theresa HennesseyDr. Theresa Hennessey Richard Long, Richard Long, GentexGentex CorporationCorporation David David PallerPaller & Ryan Rich, RIH Orthopedic Foundation& Ryan Rich, RIH Orthopedic Foundation Dave PriceDave Price Dr. Dr. EnderleEnderle

Questions?Questions?

Traumatic Brain Injury Reducing Army Combat HelmetOutlineBackgroundBackground (cont.)Project DescriptionSubunitsChin GuardOuter ShellOuter ShellPadding/Impact Protection SystemEPSPadding/Suspension SystemTestingResultsResultsResultsResultsBrain Injury ReductionBrain Injury ReductionBrain Injury ReductionBudget ConclusionReflectionAcknowledgementsQuestions?